Merchant steps down

Larry Merchant is leaving his job as a ringside boxing commentator for HBO Sports after 35 years. The network said Thursday his last broadcast will be Saturday’s season finale of “World Championship Boxing” from Houston. Merchant had worked with Jim Lampley since 1988. Max Kellerman will now be the full-time HBO ringside boxing commentator and post-fight interviewer. Kellerman joined HBO Sports in 2005. Merchant says he will become a “Tom Brokaw-like senior kibbitzer on major news and events in boxing.” He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009. – Associated Press